Earch Science Labs 1-5

Is the average density of the terrestrial planets greater than or less than the density of Earth's surface?

Greater Than

What general relationship exists between a planet's size and its density?

In general, the larger the planet, the lower its density

Which of the two groups of planets would have the greatest ability to hold large quantities of gas as part of their compositions?

Jovian

Refer to Table 1. Which planet has the shortest period of rotation?

Jupiter

Refer to Table 1. _____________is the most massive planet in the solar system.

Jupiter

Which planet exerts the greatest gravitational pull? __________________

Jupiter

Set the date to May 19, 2021 and the time to 10 PM (22:00); now find the Moon. Turn on the constellations; what constellation is it in front of? What is the Phase of the Moon?

Leo; First Quarter

What type of star is Arcturus? What is the Magnitude of Arcturus? How far away is Arcturus? What constellation does Arcturus belong to?

Red Giant Branch Star; 0.11; 36.72 light years; Bootes

The long linear feature near the center of the full-disk image of Mars is Valles Marineris, the longest canyon system in the solar system. Suggest a possible origin for Valles Marineris.

Running Water

Refer to Table 1. Which planet has a density less than water and therefore would "float"?

Saturn

A person on Mars would weigh 37.83% of his/her weight on Earth. Therefore, a person would be much lighter on Mars. A person weighs 150 lb on Earth; approximately how much would s/he weigh on Mars?

57 lbs.

Refer to Table 1. On Jupiter, a sunrise would occur every______________________

9 hours and 50 minutes (on Earth)

What are the names of the three stars in Orion's belt?

Alnitak, Alnilam, Mintaka

Locate the constellation Orion. What are the names of its two brightest stars?

Betelgeuse; Rigel

What is the largest terrestrial planet?

Earth

Locate (and zoom in on) Thuban Thuban is also known as? What is the Magnitude of Thuban? How far away is Thuban? What constellation does Thuban belong to?

Alpha Draconis; 3.64; 303.12 light years; Draco

Locate (and zoom in on) Polaris. Polaris is also known as? What is the Magnitude? Does this make Polaris the brightest star? How far away is Polaris What Constellation does Polaris belong to?

Alpha Ursae Minoris; 2.09; NO; 432.57 light years; Ursa Minor

Locate (and zoom in on) Sirius. What is the Magnitude of Sirius? How far away is Sirius? What constellation does Sirius belong to?

-1.09; 8.60 light years; Canis Major

Locate (and zoom in on) Vega What is the Magnitude of Vega? 0.09 How far away is Vega? 25.04 light years What constellation does Vega belong to? Lyra

0.09; 25.04 light years; Lyra

The diameter of the dwarf planet Pluto is approximately 1,500 miles, which is about _______________________ the diameter of the smallest planet (Mercury). In other words, Pluto is roughly _____________ the size of Mercury.

1/2

The mean radius of the Sun is 432,450 miles (696,000 kilometers). This makes the Sun almost __________________ times larger than Jupiter, which is the largest Jovian planet.

10

The equatorial circumference of Earth is 24,901 miles. Calculate the equatorial rotational velocity of Earth (mph) using velocity = distance/time.

1038 mph

Refer to Table 1. On Venus, a sunrise would occur every______________________

244 Earth days

The giant planet Jupiter rotates once on its axis approximately every 10 hours. If an object were on the equator of the planet and rotating with it, it would travel approximately 280,000 miles (the equatorial circumference or distance around the equator) in about 10 hours. Calculate the equatorial rotational velocity of Jupiter (mph) using velocity = distance/time.

28,000 mph

Refer to Table 1. In one Earth year, approximately how many revolutions around the Sun will the planet Mercury complete?

4

Refer to the Inclination of Orbits column in Table 1. With the exception of Mercury (whose inclination of orbit angle is 7), all the planets have inclination or orbit angles less than ________.

4

The smallest Jovian planet is approximately ______________ times larger than the largest terrestrial planet.

4

Refer to Table 1. The least massive planet in our solar system is ______________________________________.

Mercury

What is the smallest Jovian planet?

Neptune

Pluto's inclination of orbit angle is 17°. Compared to the eight planets, Pluto's inclination of orbit is _______________________ This supports the notion that Pluto is not a planet.

Noticeably Larger

The average density of Earth is about 5.5 g/cm3. Considering that the densities of the rocks exposed at Earth's surface (shales, sandstones, limestones, etc.) are much lower than the average density of Earth, what does this suggest about the density of Earth's interior?

The rocks comprising Earth's interior are much denser than the rocks at Earth's surface

The Big Dipper is part of the constellation? If you wanted to locate the Big Dipper on May 22, 2021 at 10:00 PM, which direction would you look?

Ursa Major; North

What planets can you see at 5 AM on May 23, 2019?

Venus, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn

What planets can you see at 9:00 PM on May 22, 2019?

Venus, Mercury, Mars, Uranus

Skip ahead to May 23, 2021 and set the time to 10 PM (22:00); now find the Moon. What constellation is it in front of now? What is the phase of the moon now?

Virgo; Waxing Gibbous

It takes Venus longer to rotate once on its axis (period of rotation) than to complete one orbit of the Sun (period of revolution). That's 244 Earth days to rotate once - the longest rotation of any planet in the Solar System - and only 224.7 Earth days to complete an orbit of the Sun. Given this information, which is longer, a day on Venus or a year on Venus?

a day on venus

How many times faster is Jupiter's equatorial rotational velocity than Earth's?

approximately 28

Refer to Table 1. What is the general relationship between the number of moons a planet has and its mass?

the more moons, the greater the planetary mass